Feeler mechanism for looms



l. SNOW.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION ILED MAFLS 1920.

Patented Aug. 9, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

M. gi 1W l. SNOW.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. a. 1920.

1,387,325. Patented Aug. 9,1921.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEE'I 2- Fig.3

uni-re n STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC SNOW, OE LAVIRMICE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAQEER CORPORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 8, 1920. Serial No. 364,159.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it KHOXVH that I, ISAAC Snow, a citizen oi": the United States, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State of Massa- (husetts, have invented an Improvement in l celer lllechanisms tor Looms, of which the i" llo .ving description, in connection with the inpullylllg drawings, is a sperification, e chars: tors on the drawings representing parts. I

This invention relates to feeler mechanisms for looms through the agency of which filling is replenished from time to time.

In order that perfect cloth may be woven on a :Eeeler loom, it is essential that the shuttlc shell lay a full pick of filling on'each ,picking movement, and that prior to the loniplete cxhaustioncot the filling in the shuttle, replenishment of the filling supply shall etlected. On the other hand, the wnount of n ding that remains upon the fillg carrier or bobbin when replenishment is n constitutes waste. It is therefore 16' of feeler mechanism to minimize his waste as far as possible without at the same time laying a partial or of filling.

in order that tl Peeler mechanism may i er'l orm the desired functions, it is essen tial that it be'sensitive and responsive both to the presence *d substantial absence of filling in the .nii tle, and that upon detection oi substantial exhaustion, but prior to complete exhaustion, it shall set a train of mechanism to effect replenishment of filling. One of the types of feeler mechanisms heretofore devised has provided for the side swipe movement of a feeler or movement of the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling became substantially exhausted, and advantage has been taken of this side swipe movement of the feeler to efi'o-t replenishment of filling. The present invention relates to this general type of :Eeeler mechanism, an important feature thereofconsists in a ieeler and a feeler actuator both of which enter the shuttle on a detecting beat and engage a surface within the shuttle, and means connectingthe actuator and feeler which, under the trontward pressure against the actuator, tends to move the ieeler longitudinally of the shuttle or impart the side swipe movement thereto. In carrying this feature of the invention into pracimperfeet pick j tical effect, the feeler preferably projects to a small extent rearwardly of the end of the actuator, so that it will first engage the surface within the shuttle on a detecting beat, and it a working supply of filling is present, the roughened or toothed end of the feeler will sink into the mass of filling and prevent its lateral or side swipe movement under the fl-outward push against the actuator transmitted through the train 01": mechanism connecting the actuator and feeler.

Another important feature of the invention consists in the feeler carrier on which both the feeler member and actuator are mounted, and a train of mechanism including a rack and pinion between the feeler and actuator, tending to impart lateral or side swipe movement to the feeler by frontward pressure upon the actuator on a detecting beat. 7

The above features and other novel elements and combinations of parts willhereinafter be described in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, one good, practical form of the invention.

In the drawings V Figure l is a perspective view of the teeler side of a loom, some of the parts being omitted for clearness of illustration, and others broken away;

Fig 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale, some of the parts being shown in section, illustrating the action of the feeler mecha nism when, on a detecting beat, a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle; and I Fig. 3' is a View similar to that of Fig. 2, showing the action of the feeler mechanism when the supply of filling in the shuttle has become substantially exhausted.

The loom frame struction, and has secured thereto the bearings 2, one" at each side of the loom frame in which is mounted the transverse or rock shaft 3, normally held in a predetermined rotative position bya spring, as usual in 1 may be of usual con- Secured to and rising from the transverse or rock shaft 3, is the arm 4, to which is pivoted at 5 the latch 6, the rear end portion 7 of which is adapted at times to be engaged by an operating member 8 which may be connected to a going part of the loom, as for instance, the cam follower.

The lay 9 has the usual shuttle-box 10, the front wall of which is slotted at 11 to register with a corresponding slot 12 in the adjacent wall of the shuttle 13 when the lat ter is in the detecting box, as indicated in Fig. 1. The shuttle 13 has mounted therein the filling carrier or bobbin 1%. on which is wound the filling 15. These parts may be of usual and well known construction. The present invention contemplates that the feeler and the actuator shall be supported upon a feeler carrier movable toward and from the front of the loom, and normally held in its rearward position. There are several forms of such carriers well known in the art, but in the present instance of the invention, the carrier, as will hereinafter appear, is formed as a reciprocating slide, although any appropriate form of carrier might be employed.

The shipper stand 16 has extending therefrom the slotted bracket 17 to which is adjustably secured the bracket 18 constituting an appropriate support for a feeler stand 19, which may be adjustably secured thereto-by means oi the bolts 20 and the slot 21 formed in the feeler stand.

Mounted on the feeler stand 19 is the feeler carrier 22 having a trontwardly eX- tending stem 23 which passes through an opening in an upstanding bearing 24 at the front of the feeler stand. The rear portion of the feeler carrier is guided for reciprocating movements in an appropriate hearing formed in the rear upstanding flange 25 of the feeler stand. A spring 26 surrounds the stem 23 of the feeler carrier, in the present instance, and normally tends to hold the feeler carrier in its back or rearward posi tion as indicated in Fig. 1, and a stop, such as the pin27, limits the rearward movement 0 the feeler carrier.

The feeler carrier 22 may be appropriately constructed to support the feeler and feeler actuator, but in the present instance of the invention the. feeler carrier is formed of the bottom plate 28 and an overlying or top plate, as indicated in Fig. 1, the two plates being appropriately secured together by proper securing means such as the rivets or like devices 29, the construction being such that the feeler carrier presents a housing or inclosing structure in which the feeler and teeler actuator are mounted.

Mounted on the feeler carrier for lateral or side swipe movement is the slide 30, best shown-in Figs. 2 and 3. The slide 30 may be appropriately guided in its lateral movements and also be limited in the amplitude thereof. In the present instance the slide 30 is provided with a slot 31, through which extend the guide and limiting pins 32 and 33, whereby the slide 30 will be guided in its lateral or transverse movements, and the amplitude of said movements be restricted. The slide 30, in the present instance, is formed as a rack having the teeth 34 which are engaged by the teeth of the pinion 35 mounted for rotative movement at 36 on the feeler carrier and operatively engaged with the feeler actuator. The fieeler actuator 37 is guided for frontward movement relative to the feeler carrier 22 and is guided in such movement by the pins 29 and 32, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. The actuator 3? has a series of teeth 38 which engage the pinion 35, the construction being such that should the actuator 37 be moved toward or from the front of the loom relative to the feeler carrier, it will impart rotative move ment to the pinion 35 and lateral or transverse movements to the rack or slide 30.

The rack or slide 30 has connected thereto the feeler 39, the rear end portion of which is provided with the teeth 40. In the present instance the rack or slide 30 has a sleeve 41 through which loosely passes the teeler 39, and a spring normally acts upon the feeler member to hold its rear toothed end portion extended rearwardly a short dis tance beyond the end 42 of the feeler actuator. The spring for effecting the yielding positioning movement of the :teeler, as described, may be variously contrived, but in the present instance it consists of a spring wire as wound about the stud 4e mounted on the feeler carrier. One end of the spring at 45 is secured to the rack or slide 30, and the other end of the spring at 46 extends into an aperture formed in the feeler 39, the construction being such. that the spring normally acts to maintain the feeler member in its rearward feeling position.

As hereinbe'tore stated, the roughened or toothed. end. 40 of; theteeler extends rearwardly a short distance beyond the rear end 4-2 of the feeler actuator; and when. a working simply of filling is present in the shutt.e on .tecting h t the toothed or roughened enc oortion 4O the ifeeler will engage the filling mass and sink into it, as the lay moves forward on detecting beat, and thereafter the end 4L2 of the feeler actuator will meet the. filling mass and by frontward push against it, will tend to actuate the train oil mechanism connecting the teeler actuator and teeler to move the feeler member laterally, or in a oire'ction longitudinally of the shuttle. The teeth or roughened portion 420 of the iieeler, however, having sunk into the mass of filling, will resist such lateral movement'and the -frontward push against the feeler actuator will move the feeler carrier and its associated parts frontwardly with out accomplishing lateral movement of the feeler. lVhen, however, the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, the feeler will again engage the surface within the shuttle, and inasmuch as the filling is substantially exhausted, it will not resist lateral movement of the feeler under the frontward push "against the feeler actuator transmitted through the train of mechanism connecting the feeler actuator and feeler, so that the feelerwill partake oi its movement laterally, or in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle.

Advantage is taken of the lateral movement of the feeler under the conditions stated, to effect replenishment of filling; and one convenient means to this end is best shown by Fig. 1, wherein the slide or rack is shown as connected to a transmitter 47, the other end of which is connected at l8 to a bell crank lever 49 pivoted at 50 to a stand 51 rising from the loom frame. One member 52 of the bell crank lever underlies the latch 6 and a stop 53 limits movement of the bell crank in one direction, the construction being such that should the feeler and the slide or rack 30 which carries it, be moved laterally on a detecting bea in the manner hereinbefore described, the end 'i" of the latch 6 will be placed in the path of the operating member 8, frontward movement of which will effect rocking movement of the transverse or rock shaft 3, to eifect replenishment of filling in the usual manner. It is of importance that the feeler shall not partake of its lateral movement or movement longitudinally of the shuttle on a detecting beat, provided the filling in the shuttle has not reached the desired degree of exhaustion, and to insure against such'movement when a sufiicient suapl i of lillin is l r a still present in the shuttle, the spring 43 is placed under increasing tension as the rack or-slide 30 moves laterally under the front.

ward push against the actuator 37, to there by more forcefully push the feeler rear-- ivardly to cause its toothed or roughened end 40 to press with increasing force against the surface within theshuttle. If such surface should still be constituted by SillfiClGlll? filling to continue weaving, the effect will beto prevent sufficient lateral movement of the feeler and slide to effect replenishment of filling until the working supply in the shuttle reaches the desired degree of exhaustion.

'l-Vhat is claimed is:

1. A. feeler 7 combination, 21,.1'86161 and a feeler actuator both of which engage a surface within the shuttle on a detectingbeat, a laterally movable slide carrying the feeler, means connecting the feeler actuator and slide tending to of a feeler carrier mounted ated by frontward movement or echanism, comprising, in

exhausted, and means for effecting replen.

ishment of filling when the slide is moved laterally on detecting beat.

2. A foeler mechanism. coz'norising, in i'omhinatiom a feelcr and actuator both of which engage surface within the shuttle on a deteztii beat, a laterally mov able slide carrying the :eeler, a spring normally projecting the feeler i arwardly on the slide and yielding frontwardly on a de testing beat to permit the aatuator to engage the surface within the shuttle, means connecting the feeler astuator and slide tending to cause lateral movement of the slide'by the frontward push upon the actuator and held from elfeoting such movement by engagement of the feelcr with the filing an a detecting beat until the filling is substaitially exhausted, and means for effecting tive to the fceier and held from siiclirotation by engagement of the tcelerivith the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion of filling, and mechanism post tioned by lateral movement of the feeler effecting replenishment of filling.

4:. In a feeler mechanism, the combination for movement to ward and from the front of the loonn a feel and a feeler actuator both movably ioiinted on the feeler carrier to engage a surface with in the shuttle on at detecting beat, laterally movable slide mounted on the feeler carrier and connected to the feelei', and means operf the actuator relative to the feeler tending to move the said movable slide laterally on a detecting beat and held from effecting such movement by engagement of the feeler with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof.

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier mounted for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a feeler and a feeler actuator mounted on the feeler carrier a rack and pinion connection between the feeler and feeler actuator for causing the frontward pressure on the actuator to impart lateral movement to the feeler, which movement is prevented by engagement of the feeler with the filling on 6. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination oi? a feel-er carrier mounted for movement toward and from the front oil the loom, a feeler and a i eeler actuator mounted on the feeler c: in and extending rearwardly to engage a surface within the shut tie on a detecting beat, a rack and pinion connection between the teeler and teeler act ator for causing the trontward pressure on the actuator to impart lateral movement to the ieeler which movement is prevented by engagement of the tteeler with the filling on at detecting beat until substantial exhaustion of filling, and means for effecting replenishment of filling when the ieeler is given its lateral movement.

7. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler and a ieeler actuator mounted for relative movement toward and from the t'ront of tee loom, a slide for supporting the teeler and movable bodily therewith in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle, connections between said slide and actuator including a rotary element tending to impart movement to the teeler longitudinally of the shuttle by relative frontward movement of the actuator and held from effecting such movement by engagement of the ieeler with the fillinguntil substantial exhaustion thereof, and means to cause replenishment of filling when the teeler is moved longitudinally oi the shuttle on a detecting beat.

8. A feeler mechanism, comprising a feeler, a laterally movable slide carrying the i'eeler, a feeler actuator, a. train oi" mechanism tending to move the slide laterally by the frontward push upon the actuator and held from effecting such movement by engagement of the gleeler with the filling on a detecting beat until substantial exhaustion of filling, and a spring rendered effective to increase the push of the i'eeler against the surface within the shuttle by lateral movement of the slide.

9. in a leeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler carrier mounted for movement toward and from the front otthe loonn-a ieeler and a ieeler actuator, both of which are supported by the feeler carrier, and rack and pinion connections between the feeler and teeler actuator which transmit the frontward pressure upon the ieeler actuator on a detecting beat into a side pressure upon the feeler and eilect movement oi? the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted and the teeler is freed to such movement.

10. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a ie'eler or pier moi "tee for movement ljUWii and trom the trout oi the loom, ifeeler and a 1" er actuator mounted upon the teeler warrior, rack and pinion connections between the 'teeler and reeler actuator constructed and arranged to transmit relative irontward movement oi the actuator into movement of the 'l eeler in a direction longitudinally of theshuttle, and means set in operation by such movement of the feeler when filling is substantially ex hauste t effect replenishment oi filling.

11. In a feeler mechanism for looms, a

teeler carrier mounte for movement toward and from the front of the loom, a ieeler that is mounted upon the teeler can rier, a i'eeler actuator the is also mounted upon the feeler carrier inoependent of the feeler and for frontward movement on the carrier relative to the feeler, and a train of mechanism including a rack and pinion mounted on the ieeler carrier connectingthe iteeler and i ecler actuator for converting "frontward movement of the actuator relative to the teeler into side movement of the feeler when filling is substantially exhausted.

name to this specification.

ISAAC snow. 

